The myogenic heart refers to a heart that is capable of initiating its own heartbeat without requiring external nerves.
Solution
a
The term 'myogenic' means originating from muscle tissue. In the context of the heart, it refers to the ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract on their own without neural stimulation
b
This property is due to the presence of specialized cardiac muscle cells called pacemaker cells, which are found in the sinoatrial (SA) node of the heart
c
Pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses that spread through the heart, triggering the coordinated contraction of the heart muscle necessary for pumping blood
d
The rhythmic contractions of the heart are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which can increase or decrease the heart rate depending on the body's needs, but the initiation of the heartbeat is myogenic
Key Concept
Myogenic heart refers to the heart's ability to initiate its own contractions due to the activity of pacemaker cells.
Explanation
The myogenic nature of the heart allows it to function independently of direct neural control, although its rhythm can be modulated by the nervous system.